Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo interested in move to Chelsea?

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 7/4/22

Although Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear he would like to leave Manchester United and play for another team, news of which teams were interested and where he may actually go have largely been rumors at this point. But as the Premier League preseason inches closer, it looks like the international soccer star could be a step closer to an exit from Old Trafford as Chelsea United emerges as the front-runner to be his new home.

According to ESPN, Ronaldo is open to the move although Chelsea has not officially made an offer yet.

Chelsea have been told Cristiano Ronaldo could be willing to join them this summer, but the club are yet to decide whether to make a formal offer, sources have told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YlmzDrskah
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 4, 2022

ESPN reported part of the hold-up in making an offer is that some members of the club don't think manager Thomas Tuchel sees Ronaldo as part of his blueprint for next season. Rumors have swirled since partway through last season that Ronaldo wasn't fitting United's game plan and that locker-room disagreements persisted.

According to The Telegraph, new Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly plans to talk to Tuchel about Ronaldo before an offer might be made.

The news of a potential move comes as Ronaldo is conspicuously absent from training with United on Monday. Players are returning to the club after their offseason layoff so they can prepare for international preseason play in Thailand and Australia. Ronaldo has reportedly been given an extended leave of absence due to family matters.

Chelsea has long been rumored to be a front-runner to land Ronaldo if he leaves United. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also among teams rumored to have interest in adding the 37-year-old to their rosters.

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